Olivia Moultrie makes USWNT history in W Gold Cup rout

Feb 20, 2024; Carson, California, USA; United States forward Olivia Moultrie (13) scores a goal against Dominican Republic goalkeeper Paloma Pena (20) during the first half of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage game at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Teenager Olivia Moultrie scored twice in her first career start, highlighting a dominant performance by the U.S. women’s national team in a 5-0 victory over the Dominican Republic on Tuesday in the first match of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Carson, Calif.

Moultrie, making her third international appearance, scored in the 7th and 58th minutes.

According to OptaJack, at 18 years, 156 days old, Moultrie became the third-youngest American woman to score in a competitive match behind Mallory Swanson and Tiffany Roberts. Moultrie subsequently became the program’s third-youngest player to score multiple goals in a match, with only Cindy Parlow Cone (twice) and Mia Hamm also accomplishing the feat.

Lynn Williams had a goal in the 30th minute and Jenna Nighswonger, in her third match, scored her first goal via penalty kick in the 86th minute.

Alex Morgan converted another PK in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to conclude the Group A match. Morgan has 122 goals for the national team.

The Americans don’t leave Carson for the remaining group matches against Argentina on Friday and Mexico on Monday.

Moultrie put herself in the right spot at the right time for the opening score.

Midge Purce made a hard run on the right side of the box and sent over a cross that Sophia Smith got a foot on to send the ball toward the far post, where Moultrie had a redirect.

It was a similar type of goal for Williams, with Purce again putting the ball in a dangerous spot.

Purce set up Moultrie for a close-range goal to make it 3-0. Moultrie was subbed off in the 66th minute after spraining her left ankle a few minutes earlier.

The USWNT had 31 shot attempts, while the Dominican Republic’s lone attempt came in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

The tournament includes eight teams from CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) plus South American sides Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay.

Morgan was added to the squad of interim U.S. coach Twila Kilgore on Tuesday to replace rising forward Mia Fishel, who tore her right anterior cruciate ligament in a Monday training session.

–Field Level Media